And that's how we ended up here — with Rizevim Livan Lucifer hurling blasts of demonic power left and right at my father, while Euclid Lucifage desperately tried to make sure none of those blasts reached me.
A single flick of my father's wrist was enough to deflect every last demonic blast Rizevim threw at him.
Realizing ranged attacks weren't going to cut it, Rizevim switched to a direct assault.
Moving at godlike speed, Rizevim appeared right in front of my father, wings fully spread, and threw a direct punch. My father crossed his arms in an X to block the blow, sliding back a few meters. Spreading his own wings, he used two of them like blades, striking at Rizevim's torso. Rizevim, catching the attack in time, used his own wings to defend himself and fell back.
The two of them stared each other down.
"First rule when fighting an enemy you don't know: observation and testing the waters," Euclid explained, raising a protective barrier around himself and the little chestnut-haired boy. "You always have to be watching your opponent, looking for weak points," he went on, pointing toward the battle. "If it's a new opponent, always keep your distance and attack from range. Once you actually know your enemy, you can consider close combat if you want — but only after you've observed them first. Watch them, and then—" the Lucifage tried to continue.
BOOM
Rizevim and Satan's fists collided.
High strikes, low strikes, kicks, sweeps, blocks — the entire exchange was a blur of motion.
"Incredible," was all Issei could manage, watching the fight unfold.
After about half an hour of exchanged blows and bursts of demonic power, Satan won the fight...
Simply because Rizevim ran out of stamina.
"Guess I've still got it," Satan said, dusting himself off.
"Ufufufufu, all these years, and I still can't beat you," Rizevim said, exhausted.
"So then, Issei, with this training you'll be able to—" he couldn't finish, because—
Like some kind of déjà vu...
He stepped on his son's little toe.
The boy didn't say a word, just started tearing up a little, fighting to hold back the tears.
"Aw, look how cute he looks trying not to cry!" Rizevim said...
HUGE MISTAKE.
The ground began to shake.
The entire Hyoudou Territory started trembling.
CRASH
Every window on every upper floor shattered into a thousand pieces before the terrified eyes of the household staff.
The walls cracked.
The basement that had, moments ago, been the training room, was now a massive crater.
Euclid Lucifage wet himself from sheer terror.
Yes. HE WET HIMSELF FROM TERROR.
Rizevim started shaking, knowing exactly what awaited him for uttering that unspeakable word.
Satan simply stepped aside.
He knew exactly what was about to happen.
Rizevim Livan Lucifer had opened the Gates of Hell.
And they had no intention of closing again until they'd dragged the idiot who'd dared open them straight down into the deepest pits of the Abyss.
And little Issei...
"IIIIIIIIIIIII AMMMMMMMMMM NOOOOOOOOOOT A MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONKEYYYYYYY!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, unleashing an aura black as night, obliterating the basement in the process...
And the Great Hyoudou Residence right along with it.